416  Odor  in  the  Recognition  of  Drugs.  {A&^^£f%gi£' 
Replacing  the  solution  of  ammonium  carbonate  (U.S.P.)  in  experi- 
ment No.  3  (Table  i),  by  an  equivalent  quantity  of  20  per  cent, 
solutions  of  caustic  soda,  sodium  carbonate  (crystals),  caustic  potash, 
potassium  carbonate  and  ammonia,  no  color  reaction  was  observed. 
However,  a  simple  solution  of  ammonium  carbonate  gave  a  light 
pink  color,  whereas  an  ammoniacal  solution  of  ammonium  carbonate 
as  in  experiment  No.  3  gave  a  cherry  red. 
To  show  the  influence  of  other  chemicals  on  this  test,  the  preced- 
ing table  (No.  2)  is  presented. 
It  should  be  noted  that  in  the  above  table  (No.  2)  where  no 
reaction  was  obtained  with  the  weaker  solution  of  sodium  salicylate, 
in  most  cases  a  reaction  was  obtained  with  a  stronger  solution. 
It  may  furthermore  be  stated  that  none  of  the  above  chemicals 
alone  gave  a  color  reaction  with  hydrogen  peroxide  and  ammonium 
carbonate,  except  gallic  and  tannic  acids. 
ODOR  AS  AN  AID  TO  THE  RECOGNITION  OF  DRUGS. 
By  Ci/Ement  B.  Lowe. 
In  considering  the  recognition  of  odors,  we  find  that  the  sense  of 
smell  reaches  its  highest  development  in  the  mammalia,  and  that 
among  many  animals  the  olfactory  nerves  are  exceedingly  well 
developed.  We  are  all  acquainted  with  the  fact  that  the  fox  hound 
will  follow  his  prey  at  a  rapid  pace,  being  guided  solely  by  the  sense 
of  smell ;  the  bloodhound  will  also  track  a  criminal  along  a  travelled 
highway  with  unerring  certainty,  if  first  allowed  to  smell  some  of 
the  criminal's  garments ;  and  that  certain  of  the  ruminants,  as  the 
antelope  of  the  Western  plains,  escape  from  their  enemies  by  means 
of  this  marvellously  developed  faculty.  It  is  probable  that  the  lower 
animals  have  the  memory  of  smells  unusually  developed,  that  they 
thus  receive  impressions  upon  their  mental  consciousness  which 
they  could  not  obtain  in  any  other  way ;  for  example,  a  dog,  in  mak- 
ing the  acquaintance  of  a  stranger,  or  in  recognizing  some  one  long 
absent,  will  frequently  supplement  the  impressions  received 
through  eye  and  ear  by  those  received  through  smell,  before  he 
becomes  entirely  friendly. 
The  sense  of  smell  is  very  acute  in  some  of  the  lower  races  of 
mankind,  being  far  better  developed  than  in  civilized  man.  Hum- 
boldt states  that  "  the  Peruvian  Indians  can  detect  the  approach  of  a 
